'UN with Hamas': Two officials among scores of suspected terrorists who ‘surrendered’ to IDF

Were two UN officials, one among them linked to UNRWA, among scores of suspected Hamas fighters who surrendered to the IDF in Jabaliya? Alleged pictures and footage of the mass surrender had flooded X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday. A sort of conformation, said The Times of Israel, had later come from IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari. “Whoever is left in those areas, they come out from tunnel shafts, and some from buildings, and we investigate who is linked to Hamas, and who isn’t. We arrest them all and interrogate them,” The Times of Israel quoted Hagari. Friday, though, X threw up claims and counterclaims about who were arrested by the IDF. Pro-Israel handles claimed that two UN officials—Darwish Gharbawy of the UNRWA and Ahmed Akram Lubad—were among those who had “surrendered” alongside the Hamas terrorists. These handles then lampooned the UN chief Antonio Guterres for his attempt to involve the Security Council in forcing a ceasefire to the Hamas-Israel war. There were calls for Guterres to even resign.

Hi @antonioguterres 👋
Your staff are among the Hamas terrorists who surrendered yesterday.
Any condemnation? Or busy invoking Article 99?
You are a disgrace. Resign! pic.twitter.com/VWGzfZTC0w

— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) December 8, 2023

Counterclaims said those shown surrendering were not Hamas, but civilians who had been “arrested” or “taken hostage” by the IDF. “Hamas does not surrender,” was the refrain.

Among those taken hostage today in Beit Lahia are: -Khalil Hashem Al-Kahlot, 65, - Rafiq Ahmad Al-Kahlot, 60, - Muhammad Ismail Al-Kahlot, 57 - Darwish Gharbawy,@unrwa
School director, 48 - Ahmed Akram Lubad, 56,@UN
staff In addition to the children -Muhammad Hamza… https://t.co/q8QIN3rvBa

— Alaa Jadallah (@AlaaJadallah4) December 8, 2023

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These social media users pushed the narrative of IDF brutality, claiming that the Israeli forces were perpetrating violence on innocent civilians in the name of fighting the Hamas. Israel and the UN, however, have been increasingly at odds recently. “Guterres’ tenure is a danger to world peace. His request to activate Article 99 and the call for a cease fire in Gaza constitutes support of the Hamas terrorist organization and an endorsement of the murder of the elderly, the abduction of babies and the rape of women. Anyone who supports world peace must support the liberation of Gaza from Hamas,” Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had said Thursday. Also Read: Israel calls Guterres 'Hamas supporter' as UN chief tries to rope in Security Council for Gaza ceasefire There has been a growing perception that UN has gone soft in condemning Hamas and supporting Israel. Also, Israel has on several occasions alleged that UNRWA was hand-in-glove with the Hamas.